Anthony Nolan

Anthony Nolan Saving lives through stem cells. Welcome to our page. We have created this page for you to share comments, feedback, questions, photos and videos.

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Privacy

People who use this page often want to post messages of support for loved ones who have been diagnosed with a blood cancer. This is a really great thing to do, but we need to make sure you are aware of data protection requirements concerning privacy. If you want to name individuals who have been diagnosed with a medical condition, you must get their explicit consent before doing so. To protect privacy, we may remove posts which reveal confidential information about patients, transplants, any of our donors (including donors of blood stem cells , bone marrow or umbilical cord blood ), or anything relating to collections from our donors. You can find out more about data protection and privacy on the Information Commissioner’s website: http://www.ico.gov.uk/for_the_public.aspx or our website: http://www.anthonynolan.org/

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People may post medical tips and ideas in the page. Please remember that any content posted here should not be considered medical advice. You should discuss any questions or concerns about your health with your healthcare professional(s). Respect

Please keep all posts relevant and respectful of others. This is a safe space for people to communicate safely and comfortably. Anthony Nolan may, at our sole discretion, remove any posts which we consider inappropriate or offensive, including posts which are harassing, abusive, obscene, hateful, racist, sexist or homophobic, as well as posts which promote commercial products or illegal activities, or which violate Facebook’s terms of service. If you continue to post inappropriate or offensive messages we may remove you from the page. Our page is normally only monitored by us Monday-Friday 9am - 5pm excluding bank holidays in England and Wales. If you think someone is misusing the page or breaking the House Rules, or if you have any feedback on how to make this group a better space, please contact: social@anthonynolan.org.

“Our son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with very severe aplastic anaemia in October 2021, just a week after starting Year 4. H...
19/12/2025

“Our son, Gabriel, was diagnosed with very severe aplastic anaemia in October 2021, just a week after starting Year 4. He went from being a happy, cheeky, smiley little boy to one who could barely lift his head. We were told that his condition was so severe that a bone marrow transplant was his only chance of survival.

Christmas 2021 was spent in hospital. We found out on the 22nd of December that his first donor couldn’t go ahead, and my world fell apart. But just before New Year, a young woman self‑isolated over Christmas and donated her stem cells. She saved Gabriel’s life – and mine too. She gave us the best Christmas present anyone could ever give – she saved our little boy.

Gabriel spent both Christmas and his 9th birthday in hospital isolation with just me for company. He saw his dad and siblings through a tiny square window. Those months were unbearably hard.

We exchanged anonymised letters with his donor for two years, and now we’re in touch directly. She’s in her twenties, Italian but living in Germany. That was interesting, because I'm Greek and my husband's English, and I worried that we might not find a suitable match, so it's interesting that she's Mediterranean as well. Words just cannot describe how I feel about this person who was so selfless. One day, we’d love to meet her.”

Christmas can also mean hospital stays, isolation and waiting for a match. Thank you to Maria for sharing their family’s story and showing how life changing a donor’s gift can be 💚

“Dave, my recipient and now lifelong friend, received my stem cells 16th September 2016 – and exactly one year later my ...
17/12/2025

“Dave, my recipient and now lifelong friend, received my stem cells 16th September 2016 – and exactly one year later my daughter, Orla, was born. They now share a birthday, as Dave and his family celebrate that date as his second birthday. And day 100 – the day Dave could finally see his family again, was Christmas Day.”

Thomas, from Liverpool, was on his honeymoon in the Maldives when he received a text saying he was a potential match for a stranger. When he returned home, he undertook medical tests and discovered he was a 10 out of 10 match for this person in need of a transplant.

Thomas donated his stem cells and exchanged letters with Dave and his family, discovering that Dave lived in Kansas!

“This year, I met Dave, his wife Mellissa, his daughter Maddie and her husband Alex – and Dave’s son Nick on Facetime – in London, alongside my wife Charlotte, and our children Orla and Finn. It was a truly humbling experience and a memory I will never forget.”

“We have plans to one day go over to Kansas, and for Dave and his family to visit us in Liverpool!”

We hope Thomas and Dave’s story brings hope to those who need it this Christmas – and if you’re struggling, know we’re here to chat to. Our helpline is available Mon-Fri, from 9am to 5pm except Bank Holidays – just give us a call on 0303 303 0303.

I’m alive today because of a stranger from Scotland. I’ve survived three kinds of blood cancer. When I was diagnosed wi...
16/12/2025

I’m alive today because of a stranger from Scotland.

I’ve survived three kinds of blood cancer. When I was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML), my only chance of a cure was a stem cell transplant. With no sibling match, registries around the world were searched – and a match was found in Scotland.

That’s how Charlie entered my life.

At first, we exchanged anonymous letters. His first reply began with “Hi Mate” and ended with “Your Pal.” Goosebumps every time I think about it.

A year later, we shared personal details, then emails, then video chats. And this May, I finally met Charlie in person on the Isle of Bute.

Last Christmas, my wife Joan left a small card under the Christmas tree. It read: “Let’s go see Charlie!” And wow, was it a full-circle, emotional moment. We embraced, laughed, met family and friends, and toured the island before heading to Glasgow.

Charlie is more than my genetic twin. He’s my miracle match, an unassuming hero. He told me he joined the stem cell register because in small Scottish communities like Rothesay, “people just step up to do these things.”

I am forever grateful and want to recognise the effort Charlie made to collect his stem cells for me. It meant preparation, travel from his home to London, and time at Anthony Nolan’s London clinic for the peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvesting – apparently many million strong!

To mark our bond, my wife Joan and I have created a graphic of two puzzle pieces – one piece is the Canadian flag with me above it, and the other Scottish with Charlie above – forever linked. We framed a copy for Charlie too.

Thanks Mate (Charlie) from Your Pal (Colin).

16/12/2025

Spending Christmas in hospital can be especially hard. What little things helped to brighten your stay? 🎁

“I was aware that each trip I was doing was a potential lifesaver. It made no difference to me whether I was picking up ...
15/12/2025

“I was aware that each trip I was doing was a potential lifesaver. It made no difference to me whether I was picking up cells at the London Clinic and walking them the short distance to UCH, or was travelling much further afield - each trip was as important as the other.”

Volunteer couriers play a vital role in our lifesaving work, safely transporting stem cells across the globe. This year, after 452 trips, covering a staggering 590,010 miles and visiting 17 countries, Peter has begun his well-earned retirement from couriering.

“Having the opportunity to be a courier for thirteen and a half years completely enriched my life. It’s helped me stay mentally and physically fit and taught me the art of diplomacy. I went to places I might never have got to, visiting museums, galleries, and beautiful gardens.”

Thanks to Peter, and our team of 108 volunteer couriers, donated stem cells reach patients safely every year. But Peter’s journeys weren’t without their challenges: from transport delays, to being caught in a hurricane in the USA while bringing cells to Oxford, and even a run-in with police at Dubai airport.

“There were occasions when I had to deal with transport cancellations, strikes, the weather, and other sorts of delays, but one learns to keep a level head and always have a plan B in mind as a backup. It must have worked, as I was never concerned about failing to deliver the cells to the transplant centre in time.”

This festive season, we want to send a heartfelt thank you to all our volunteer couriers, who just like our own team of Father Christmases, will be delivering gifts of hope over the Christmas period.

And a special thank you to Peter, who has now embarked on a year of travel, revisiting some of his favourite destinations from his years as a courier.

🚨 PLEASE SHARE: Dolcie-Mae needs your help again! 🚨 “By being on the register, you’re giving families like mine hope, an...
15/12/2025

🚨 PLEASE SHARE: Dolcie-Mae needs your help again! 🚨

“By being on the register, you’re giving families like mine hope, and you’re making a real difference just by being willing to help. I'm asking from the deepest place in my heart for more people to learn about the stem cell register and consider joining."

Earlier this year we appealed for your help, as baby Dolcie-Mae, from Newport, Wales urgently needed a stem cell transplant.

Hundreds of people came together to join the stem cell register in Dolcie-Mae's name, but after months of searching there were still no perfect matches worldwide for little Dolcie-Mae, and her treatment had to proceed with a mismatched donor.

Devastatingly, Dolcie-Mae has relapsed – and now needs a second stem cell transplant to give her the best chance of survival.

Dolcie-Mae's mum Courtney is imploring people to sign up to the stem cell register, and tell anyone eligible to do the same – they could be that gift of hope for a family just like hers.

✅ Aged 16-30? Please join the stem cell register today: https://bit.ly/4oY7fXI

🔁 Over 30 or unable to sign up? Please share with your friends, family and community

Let’s come together to give families like Dolcie-Mae and Courtney hope this Christmas. 💚

Last night we held our annual carol concert, and we reflected on another year of incredible work by our colleagues, volu...
12/12/2025

Last night we held our annual carol concert, and we reflected on another year of incredible work by our colleagues, volunteers and supporters, giving people across the country and the world another chance of life.

The evening was full of festive cheer, hosted by Dom Holland, with performances from I Dodici choir and Naana Agyei-Ampadu, and readings from Alison Steadman and Kellie Shirley.

We also heard from Theo and his mum Ellie. Theo received a stem cell transplant in 2023, and had to spend his birthday and Christmas in isolation. However, thanks to an anonymous donor, Theo is now doing really well - and his family want others to have that chance too.

This festive season, as well as celebrating our amazing community, we’re also thinking of those who are in hospital, going through treatment, or sadly no longer with us. If you need any support or someone to chat to, please know that our team are here on 0303 303 0303.

"I joined the stem cell register when the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came to my school. I thought I'd join just in...
09/12/2025

"I joined the stem cell register when the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service came to my school. I thought I'd join just in case - I knew it wasn't going to be a high chance I was a match, but it turned out I was! I was only on the register for four months when I was contacted, and then two months later, I donated!"

James is proof that one decision can have a truly lifesaving impact. Aged 16-30? You could help save a life, just like James did, by signing up to the stem cell register.💚

🧫 “I chose to take part in the research as I felt that, even if it didn’t work for me, it could help others. Years later...
09/12/2025

🧫 “I chose to take part in the research as I felt that, even if it didn’t work for me, it could help others. Years later, we know it worked and I’m doing really well.”

Three years ago, Alyssa, then aged 13, was the first person in the world to be treated with BE-CAR7 – a new type of CAR-T therapy using cutting edge technology to modify immune cells from donors to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL).

The treatment was manufactured using cells from Anthony Nolan donors, and undertaken by Great Ormond Street Hospital and Charity and UCL.

Alyssa is now thriving and even visited our labs this year, as she is considering becoming a cancer researcher herself.

Since Alyssa’s treatment, ten more patients have been given the same treatment, with most achieving remission and being able to receive a stem cell transplant. Before this clinical trial, all of these patients had a low chance of survival and very limited treatment options.

Advances in cell therapies like this give us hope that more patients will soon have access to the latest treatments to help them survive and thrive.

Learn more about the BE-CAR7 treatment and what it means for patients here: https://bit.ly/4oJCdCT

✨ The Anthony Nolan Christmas Auction is officially LIVE! ✨This is your chance to sprinkle a little extra magic on the f...
08/12/2025

✨ The Anthony Nolan Christmas Auction is officially LIVE! ✨
This is your chance to sprinkle a little extra magic on the festive season while supporting a lifesaving cause.

From once-in-a-lifetime experiences and exclusive event tickets, to gourmet food hampers and even a luxurious chateau holiday, there’s something for everyone on your Christmas list (and yes, that is an Absolutely Fabulous script signed by Dame Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders!)🎁✨

Whether you’re looking for the perfect present, planning a memorable treat, or simply feeling lucky, every bid will help us continue our lifesaving work, and giving hopes to those who need it most.

Bidding closes on Friday 12 December, so make sure you get your favourites secured before time runs out!

Explore the full auction and start bidding here: https://uk2.emma-live.com/anchristmascarols/list-silent-lots

“My Dad was a very skilled electrician, cook, mechanic and all-round handyman! He was reliable, logical, creative, witty...
04/12/2025

“My Dad was a very skilled electrician, cook, mechanic and all-round handyman! He was reliable, logical, creative, witty. He was also a simple man who loved nothing more than a glass of wine and a lie down in the quiet sun. We will always be so proud of how he remained kind and positive through all the horrendous treatments and complications that he faced.”

This week is Grief Awareness Week. Lauren heartbreakingly lost her dad in 2023, after complications following a stem cell transplant, and created a tribute page so that she and her family had somewhere to reflect on what an incredible person he was.

“Dad’s tribute page is an outlet for me when I want somewhere to go to look at what people have said about him and to scroll through photos. It feels like something visual which is a representation of positive change associated with him, and that keeps his memory alive. The added support of the Anthony Nolan team keeping in touch around landmark dates and offering support makes me feel understood and that Dad has not been forgotten.”

“We are so appreciative that everything possible was done for Dad to try to extend his life. We also know that if there had been a better match for him out there on the register, his chances of survival would have been so much better.”

“With this in mind, we wanted to help better the chances of others in similar situations. Ultimately, Dad’s tribute page forms part of his legacy.”

As we approach the festive season, we’re particularly thinking of those who have lost of a loved one. We know that times like this can be especially tough, so please know we’re right here if you need anyone to talk to.

We’re also inviting anyone who has lost a loved one to light a star in their memory, and at the same time, help others in their name.
https://anthonynolan.dedicationpage.org/lightastar

“When I think about my son, Ben, I am flooded with a million memories, like little films or photographs flashing up simu...
03/12/2025

“When I think about my son, Ben, I am flooded with a million memories, like little films or photographs flashing up simultaneously, playing back in my mind. I can still hear the sound of his voice as he’d call out to his sisters and I still, thankfully, recall his infectious giggle. God, I miss him.”

This week marks what would have been Anthony Nolan’s 54th birthday, and it also marks Grief Awareness Week. Today, Ginny shares her experience of losing her son Ben, a young boy who was, just like Anthony, a young, curious and well-loved son, diagnosed with a form of blood cancer.

“When I am sitting alone sometimes and I think about Ben, the feeling of complete disbelief over what has happened to our family is so acute and unreal, that it feels like someone else’s life and not our own. How on earth can my beautiful boy have died? He was here.”

“The best bit of advice I received after Ben died was to ‘feel everything.’ For me, finding creativity and purpose in grief is everything. To feel motivated, like you are still here on this earth for a reason and you can still find meaning and joy in your life, after the loss of a child, is fundamental. I have lost my son, but my girls have lost their brother and will have to spend the rest of their lives without him and I expect they also feel like they have lost their parents to some degree, too, although we do try our best to stay present for them both.”

“Grief can be all-consuming and debilitating, but it can also be a strange sort of superpower, that allows you to be fearless again, to try new things and to be the person you were always set to become, however hard your journey because it seems to invoke a bit a devil may care attitude at times; and I certainly find my ability to tolerate nonsense and unkindness, ingratitude, that sort of thing, at a profound zero.”

“There is beauty to be found in every day and there is love and laughter, too. Let the tears fall when you need to and know that you are not alone and there is always someone there you can talk to, so please reach out.”

Ginny and her family are now in their seventh year of fundraising for the Ben's Epic Christmas Boxes campaign, bringing gifts to children staying in the hospitals where Ben was treated, to help keep Ben’s name alive. This year, they are hoping to raise extra funds for the Ben's Epic 100 Days Activity Book - a creation that he helped bring to life while undergoing a stem cell transplant.

If you’re experiencing grief, what is one thing that helped you? If you feel able to, share your experiences in the comments to help others.

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